HUDSON – School officials suspended the search for a new middle school principal to brainstorm strategies to find more qualified applicants after most of the 33 candidates lacked sufficient experience.

A screening committee made up of school officials, School Committee members and parents reviewed the resumes of the 33 applicants and interviewed a few of them earlier this week, but determined the candidate pool lacked sufficient experience and did not meet the search criteria before suspending the search, said Superintendent Kevin Lyons.

"The committee and I didn’t feel confident enough that we had a match," said Lyons. "At this point in time the committee just feels that experience wasn’t there in the candidate pool."

The screening committee is expected to hunt for experienced in- and out-of-state candidates and others not currently seeking a new job to replace Quinn Middle School Principal Brian Daniels, who is leaving to become principal of Monomoy Regional Middle School on Cape Cod. One way to find those candidates is to employ a search firm, which Lyons expects the committee will discuss in the coming weeks.

"It is one of the options," he said.

Despite the suspension of the search, Lyons said the district plans to hire a new principal but he isn't sure when.

"We plan on filling it," he said.

The district initially planned to name Daniels’ successor in mid-April.

During a forum earlier this month, parents told school administrators the next Quinn Middle School principal needs to focus on building a culture and community at the new three-grade middle school. Parents also told school officials the new principal should value the opinions of teachers, students and parents, as well as keep the school community informed of the happenings at the school.

Quinn Middle School’s principal the past five years, Daniels also served as a high school teacher and curriculum director for English language arts and social studies during his 15-year career in the district.

Jeff Malachowski can be reached at 508-490-7466 or jmalachowski@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmalachowskiMW.